Cafeteria Plan 2014

It is now time for the Cafeteria Plan open enrollment. This year the enrollment period ends at midnight on December 1, 2013. Enrollment in the Cafeteria Plan this year will again be done online.

Due to Federal law, there are some changes. The healthcare flexible spending account (HCFSA) is now limited to $2500. Also new this year is a limited scope HCFSA which is used in conjunction with a Health Savings Account (not to be confused with the Flexible Spending Account). NOTE: The majority of employees will not be eligible for this limited scope option since most are covered under the University’s medical plan. For questions about the limited scope option, please contact Central/ASI at 800-659-3035.

Complete information may be found in the Cafeteria Plan Booklet at www.mocafe.com and on http://www.missouristate.edu/human/90821.htm. The booklet contains instructions for online enrollment. We remind you to be sure to complete all steps in the online enrollment process, otherwise, you may not be properly enrolled for 2014.

Enrollment can be done either at work or at home. At work, computers are available in one of the various computer labs on the Springfield campus. Labs are located in:

Cheek Hall - Room 150

Glass Hall - Rooms 228, 229, 234, & 235

Meyer Library - 2nd Level.

Additionally, Human Resources staff will be available to assist you with the online enrollment process during the open enrollment period. Contact Paula Huey or Julie Dubinsky at 66616 if you need assistance with the online enrollment process.

Before you begin to enroll online, we remind you:

You do not have to enroll in the cafeteria plan each year in order to keep your medical and dental insurance coverage. Enrolling in the cafeteria plan is not about “signing up” for your medical and dental insurance. Enrolling in the cafeteria plan is about paying insurance premiums and non-covered medical or dental expenses, or dependent care costs on a pre-tax basis. Therefore, only employees who anticipate having medical or dental expenses not covered by our insurance, or who elect Missouri State University medical or dental insurance for a family member(s) and want to pay the insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis, or who have dependent care expenses should consider enrolling in the cafeteria plan.

December 1, 2013 is the deadline for enrolling. No extensions are permitted.

ENROLLMENT RULES

For qualified payroll deducted health insurance premiums, you do not have to re-enroll for 2014;enrollment is automatic for your insurance premiums if you currently pay premiums through the cafeteria plan and want to continue.

If you want to stop using the cafeteria plan to pay your insurance premium(s) on a pre-tax basis in 2014, you must elect the post-tax option. If you do not follow the instructions to stop participating, your insurance premiums will continue to be paid pre-tax through the cafeteria plan for all of 2014.

If you do not want to participate (or continue to participate) in the flexible medical benefits and/or dependent care assistance option in 2014, simply do nothing and your participation will automatically end on December 31, 2013.

To participate in the Flexible spending or dependent care accounts, you must enroll on-line.

If you are not currently participating in the cafeteria plan, but want to begin participating in 2013, you must use the online enrollment procedures.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT

If you wish to participate in the flexible spending option, it is important to estimate the amount of money you want to be redirected from your salary to your Cafeteria Plan account for medical expenses. If you over-estimate the amount you need, the state of Missouri will keep the funds left in your account at the end of 2013. In determining how much money to have withheld from your monthly salary and deposited into your flexible medical expense account, it may be helpful to review your medical expenses incurred in 2013.

(1) Deductibles: Medical deductible remains $800 (individual) and $1,600 (family) if the medical services are provided in-network. (The deductible is waived at Taylor Health and Wellness Center.) For out-of-network, the 2013 deductible is $1,600 (individual) and $3,200 (family).

(2) Out-of-Pocket Maximums: The annual maximum out-of-pocket amounts (deductible + coinsurances) are $2,800 per person or $5,600 per family if medical services are from Taylor Health & Wellness Center or preferred provider. However, if medical services are from an out-of-network hospital, clinic, or healthcare provider the annual maximum out-of-pocket amounts are $5,600 per person and $11,200 per family.

(3) Prescription Medication Expenses: Your prescription benefit remains a 30% co-insurance. (If filling the prescription at Taylor Health and Wellness Center, the coinsurance is 20%.) At other pharmacies, each time you fill a prescription, you must pay 30% of the price for the medication; our insurance pays the balance of 70%. Your coinsurance increases to 50% if you purchase a brand name medication when a generic equivalent was available and your physician had approved the generic medication.

Throughout 2014, as you get prescriptions filled, you will continue to pay the coinsurance until you have paid a total of $1,500 out of your pocket. Once you have paid $1,500, our insurance pays 100% of the cost for every prescription you get for the remainder of the 2014 calendar year. Employees are reminded that the $1,500 out-of-pocket amount for prescriptions is in addition to the medical deductible and out-of-pocket amounts discussed in paragraphs (1) and (2) above.

The Cafeteria Plan Booklet contains a partial listing of expenses that are eligible for reimbursement from your medical flexible spending account. Examples of ineligible expenses are also cited.

Please note: All over-the-counter medicines must be accompanied by a prescription from the doctor such as allergy medication, aspirin, antacids etc. Other items such as contact lens solution, bandages etc. are still eligible without a prescription. Previously, over-the-counter drugs and medicines that were purchased to treat an existing or imminent medical condition qualified as a covered medical expense without a prescription. Refer to the Plan booklet for more complete information.

DEPENDENT CARE ACCOUNT

You may also use the Cafeteria Plan to pay for dependent care costs on a pre-tax basis. The rules for use of the dependent care assistance option are explained in the booklet. CAUTION: These rules differ from those for medical or dental expense reimbursements. The Flexible Spending Account option is to be used for medical expenses involving dependents.

If you have any questions, please call the Office of Human Resources at 66616 and ask for either Paula Huey or Julie Dubinsky.